The Richmond Youth Peace Project will present its sixth annual youth Educoncert, Generation Dream 2011, honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Two performances are scheduled this year. The first show will be held at the VCU Singleton Performing Arts Center, 922 Park Avenue, on Sunday, January 30, 2011 at 4 p.m. A second performance will be held at the Richmond Public Library's main branch, 101 E. Franklin Street, on Friday, February 4 at 7 p.m. A $5 donation is requested to help defray expenses at the Sunday afternoon show. Admission to the Friday evening show--part of February's First Fridays events--is free.

Generation Dream 2011 features youth performances from throughout metro Richmond, along with several adult professinoal artists. This upliftint 90-minute multi-cultural variety show is built around the themes of peace, nonviolence, and social justice. The show is part of Living the Dream, Richmond's annual commemoration of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Organized bby RPEC and Drums No Guns. Co-sponsored by Project All, VCU School of Social Work, and VCU African American Studies.

NO IMPACT MAN (2009) film directed by Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein
Author Colin Beavan, in research for his next book, began the No Impact Project in November 2006. A newly self-proclaimed environmentalist who could no longer avoid pointing the finger at himself, Colin leaves behind his liberal complacency for a vow to make as little environmental impact as possible for one year. This film provides a front row seat into the familial strains and strengthened bonds that result from the struggle with this radical lifestyle change.

Celebrate international worker's day this May 1st in Richmond with Workshops, Rally and Parade.

Workshops start at 9:00 am at Gallery 5 200 W. Marshall St.
Rally at 4:00 pm at Abner Clay Park, then Parade from there through the Jackson Ward District of Richmond.

Endorsed by 24 organizations, we will rally and march in celebration of workers rights, and the upward struggle for freedom, justice and equality! We march for an end to all wars and occupations! We march for the right to food, housing & jobs for everyone! We march for the workers right to organize! We march for Women’s right of control over their own bodies! We march for education for all! We march for a living wage! We march against racism! We march for health care for all. And we march for the legalization of all workers, for no one is illegal!

Workshop Schedule-
10:00am – 2:00pm “How To: Food Not Bombs” | Richmond & Norfolk Food Not Bombs
10:00am – 12:00pm “Case for a Richmond Industrial Workers of the World” | Industrial Workers of the World
11:00am – 12:00pm “Building Virginia Peoples Assembly” | Virginia Peoples Assembly
12:00pm – 1:00pm “Roads to Democratic Socialism” | Socialist Party of Central Virginia
12:00pm – 2:00pm “Understanding the RIGHT to Self-Determination” | Defenders For Freedom, Justice & Equality
12:00pm – 2:00pm “Introduction to DIY Flyer Design” | There Once Was a Rebellion
1:00pm – 2:00pm “Building Power in the Workplace: Worker’s Rights and Non-majority Union Organizing” | Breanne Armbrust
2:00pm – 3:00pm “May Day & Beyond! What’s Next?” | Open Discussion

Parade and Rally begin at 4:00 pm at Abner Clay Park!!!

May Day! Workers of the World Unite!

This is our day! International Workers Day! Our day to recognize and appreciate the social and economic achievements of the international labor movement. The struggle began in 1884 when the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions passed a resolution that would enact an eight-hour workday beginning on May 1, 1886. On May 4th, 1886 during a general strike for the eight hour day in Chicago, police fired on strikers and killed a dozen people in what has become known as the Haymarket Massacre. In 1890, Labor activists, Leftists, Socialists and Anarchists began celebrating May 1 as the International Worker’s Holiday to achieve “…the legal establishment of the 8-hour day, the class demands of the proletariat, and universal peace.”

With the specter of a market free of government regulation that reaches far beyond the familiar borders of the United States, there is a need, more than ever, for a labor movement that demands for the rights of working people, and holds accountable the government and corporations for the injustices that we are forced to endure at the mercy of the wealthy.

The Struggle Continues! We must Organize!

There is no time better than now! From the office worker in a business suit to the construction worker in coveralls, no one has been left untouched. Corporate greed permeates every aspect of our lives as workers are laid off without benefits and left to fight to save their homes from foreclosure. While the city becomes a destination for the suburban middle class, protections for lower income residents are virtually non existent. Urban planners are heralded for ushering new life, income and opportunities into the area, but they also inadvertently pave the way for gentrification and the displacement of those who depend on the proximity of jobs and public transportation to survive. Developers left unchecked by city government are threatening Public Housing residents with the prospect of becoming homeless. All the while, institutional racism continues to permeate our culture, with hate groups on the rise in both membership and influence. And despite the popular movement demanding health care for all, the decision has been handed over to the insurance companies.

The economy has reached an all time low and workers are left to fend for themselves with few solutions. Immigrant and migrant workers continue to be scapegoated drawing attention away from the role of corporations and the destabilizing effects of free trade agreements. Recognizing our similarities rather than differences, we are united around the core principle that we must link arms and fight back in the spirit of those that came before us in a true display of solidarity.

This May Day we wish to demonstrate the presence of a labor movement in Richmond that is ready to fight against the multitude of injustices in our communities. We wish to unite individuals, faith based groups, unions, students, teachers and progressive organizations who will stand in solidarity with one another, for economic & social justice, freedom, and equality! And overall, we wish to better define the overlapping issue of capitalism that exists at the root of all our working class woes.

As part of Richmond May Day events, workshops begin April 30 at the William Byrd Community House.
5:30pm – 6:00pm “STOP MEANS STOP!” | The Active Hand Ministry
6:00pm – 7:00pm “VCU Students For Social Action” | VCU Students for Social Action
6:00pm – 7:00pm “Restoration of Voting Rights” | Resource Information Help for the Disadvantaged
7:00pm – 9:00pm “Conflict Resolution for Activists” | Richmond Peace & Education Center
7:00pm – 9:00pm “Reproductive Justice & Prison Abolition” | Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project
9:00pm – 10:00pm “One City, One Community.” | RePHRAME

And Join Us on Saturday May 1st for More Workshops, Rally and Parade!
Info at www.maydayrva.org

On Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, hundreds of activists from the labor, civil rights, immigrant, prisoner advocacy, student, health, anti-war movements & more will meet & march & rally to tell the new governor & the Virginia General Assembly:
(1) Don't balance the budget on the backs of Virginia's workers!
(2) Raise Virginia's income tax on large corporations – the 2nd lowest in the country!
(3) Enact an immediate moratorium on layoffs, cutbacks, evictions & foreclosures!
(4) No scapegoating of immigrants! Equality for people of color, women & the LGBT community!
(5) Money for jobs & education, not for prisons, wars & occupations!

On Jan. 13, the VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY will be back in session, determined to balance the budget by laying off more state workers, cutting services & aid to the cities, raising fees, fines & university tuition.

IT'S TIME TO TELL THE POLITICIANS:

No More Budget Cuts or Layoffs!
Make the Big Corporations Pay Their Fair Share!

Part of THE BIG READ.
Co-author (and Ivy resident) Laura Anderson recounts her
experience as teacher, friend, and finally spiritual advisor to the last juvenile offender executed in Virginia.

On behalf of the Mahatma Gandhi Center for Global Nonviolence at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, CCPJ members, families and friends are invited to come see and hear former President Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter.

They will be receiving the Mahatma Gandhi Global Nonviolence Award, given annually by Dr. Sushil Mittal and the Gandhi Center to those who have contributed to global peace and nonviolent conflict resolution.

Tickets can be purchased at http://www.jmu.edu/gandhicenter/, or call 540.568.3853
The costs are $10 for the lower level and $5 for the upper level.

*** Reserved seating for the event is now sold out but $5 general admission seats are still available.***

The Family Peace Festival will feature performances from the Latin Ballet of Virginia; Ezibu Muntu; Spoken Word & Hip-Hop by Rasul Elder; and Falun Gong, a Chinese dance.

There will be interactive children's crafts and games, a variety of ethnic foods, and an interfaith worship service. The festival will also include many exhibitors and vendors from the greater Richmond area.

The Family Peace Festival is a celebration of peace that originally began in response to the attacks of September 11, 2001. The mission of the annual event is to provide an opportunity for children, youth, and adults of the greater Richmond area to gather to celebrate peace and diversity. The organizers hope to foster a growing sense of community among the participants. The day is intended to encourage mutual collaboration and appreciation among Richmond's diverse communities of faith. Sponsoring organizations include Richmond Peace Education Center, The Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond and other faith-based and nonprofit organizations.

Spaces for nonprofit organizations and vendors are still available. For information about reserving a place for a display, please contact the vendor coordinator at tables@familypeacefestival.org

For more information about the Festival: www.familypeacefestival.org

For general information: info@familypeacefestival.org or call 232-1002.

For information on exhibit tables or vending: tables@familypeacefestival.org.

The time is now for healthcare reform, counteract the influence of big money on the issues.
A rally is being held at Patrick Henry Park in Richmond, 11:00-12:00 on July 15. The Change that Works Campaign will be sending a bus leaving from Azalea Park, meet up at 9:00 a.m. Back in Charlottesville before 2:00

Two-day training in nonviolent conflict resolution techniques, for educators and other interested adults.

Tuition of $150 includes the cost of a 100+ page training manual. Lunch and snacks will be provided each day.

Educators will also be eligible to earn recertification points for state licensure.

For more information or to register, call the Richmond Peace Education Center at 232-1002 or email rpec@rpec.org.